What are some specific traits that a flight sergeant calls for? Not things that all leaders need. But traits that a flight sergeant needs specifically. :)
My NCO Academy runs around two things: Competence and Confidence.
Competence:
You need to be technically competent in all of your basic skills of a cadet,
attendance, participation, uniform, subordination, and advancement in the program (if you're talking about encampment, throw in things like SOP your personal area, and memory work)
You need to be technically competent in your knowledge of drill and ceremonies, your command voice, and your ability to drive a flight.
You need to be technically competent at taking a task, and a group of cadets on a team, and executing task to completion.
You need to be technically competent at communicating with both subordinates and superiors AND being the man-in-the-middle in the communications chain.
You need to be technically competent at knowing your people, knowing their needs, and helping them overcome obstacles to success.
and...
Confidence:
The cup of your self-confidence need to runneth over.
It is from this overflow that you will find your ability to "influence" (lead) others.
It doesn't mean being arrogant or cocky, but it means being sure of yourself, and believing in your competence (that you know how to do it right). Makes sense, how can you purport to others that they should follow you to do something right, if you don't even believe it yourself?
Competence without confidence makes you a REALLY GOOD cadet senior airman.
But it falls short of what you need to do as a sergeant (leader).
If that confidence cup is half-full you will be very sharp, but you won't be driving others.
Confidence without competence makes someone a bag of hot air. Nevertheless, people will follow that anyway... even if following it leads them right off a cliff... and they do, on a regular basis!
You need both.
If you do all of both of those, you will be a rockin Sergeant!
And you'll know that you're doing well, because your airmen will be succeeding!
SSgt and above....but not CMSgt.
Other then that......Flight Sergeants need nothing different then any other leader. There is nothing magical about the Flt Sgt position.
You are just in charge of the whole flight instead of just your element. Same job....just more of it.
It helps if you know the names of your element leaders and the names of the cadets assigned to each element...